Philip Francis THOMAS

(1810-1890)

THOMAS, Philip Francis, a
Representative and Senator-elect from Maryland; born in Easton,
Talbot County, Md., September 12, 1810; attended the academy in
Easton, and was graduated from Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., in
1830; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1831 and commenced
practice in Easton, Md.; delegate to the State constitutional
convention in 1836; member of the State house of delegates in 1838,
1843, and 1845; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-sixth Congress
(March 4, 1839-March 3, 1841); declined to be a candidate for
renomination in 1840; resumed the practice of law; Governor of
Maryland 1848-1851; judge of the land office court of eastern
Maryland; Comptroller of the United States Treasury 1851-1853;
collector of the port of Baltimore, Md., 1853-1860; United States
Commissioner of Patents from February 16 to December 10, 1860;
appointed Secretary of the Treasury in the Cabinet of President
Buchanan and served from December 10, 1860, to January 11, 1861;
again a member of the State house of delegates in 1863; presented
credentials as a Senator-elect to the United States Senate for the
term beginning March 4, 1867, but was not seated; elected as a
Democrat to the Forty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1875-March 3,
1877); declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1876;
unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate in
1878; again elected a member of the State house of delegates in
1878 and 1883; delegate to the Democratic State convention in 1883;
resumed the practice of law in Easton, Md.; died in Baltimore, Md.,
October 2, 1890; interment in Spring Hill Cemetery, Easton, Md.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present